Knitting



Sept 17, 1929', v. LOMBARD: 1,728,293

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KNITTING Filed June 15, 1925 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 Sept. 17, 1929. v. LOMBARDI KNITTING Filed June 15, 1925 7 Shasta-Sheet 3 Sept 17, 1929- v. LOMBARDI 1,728,293

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KNIT'I'ING 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 l .I .Inl

Filed June l5, 1925 nunmnfdn Sept. 17, 1929. v. LOMBARDI 1,728,293

KNITTING Filed June 15, 1925 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 Voie), o," an' q) Sept. 17, 1929. V. L QMARDI KNITTING Filed June 15, 1925 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 Patented Sept. 17, 1929 PATENT oFFlcE VINCENT LOMBARDI, OF BROOKLYN, .NEW YORK KNITTING `Application med June 15, 1925. Serial No. 37,076.

This invention relates to knitting machines and methods, and includes certa-in' assembly, readily adjustable, capable of a` wide variety of uses,` and adapted for ready and etlicient operation.

A further object is to provide various articles of manufacture capable of use in connection with such machines and having an improved construction.

Other objects of the invention will in part bg obvious and will in part appear hereina ter.

The invention accordingly comprises the several steps and the relation and order of one or more 'of such steps with respect to each of the others, the apparatus embodying the features of construction, combinations of elements and arrangement of parts adapt-cd to effect such steps, and the'articles ot' manufacture which possess the characteristics, features, properties and relation of elements, all of which will be exemplified in the following detailed disclosure, and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the claims.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front view of a portion of a d fabric illustrative of one type of fabric which may be produced byl machines and methods embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view thereof;

Fig. 3 illustrates somewhat diagrammatically a series of groups of needles as actuated by successive needle actuating mechanisms for the production of such a fabric;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section of the sinker guide illustrating somewhat diagrammatically the position of the sinkers cooperating with the needles shown in Fig. 3, the sinker guide being straightened for the sake of convenience of illustration;

Fig. 5 is a horizontal section of the needle cylinder and the cam cylinder providing a top view of the needle actuating mechanism shown in Fi 3, the curves of these cylinders bemg straig tened for the sake of convenience; Fig. 6 is a vertical section of both cylinders illustrating the relative positions of a pattern Wheel, a needle and a sinker when the needle is in a partially raised position; Fig. 6a is a fragmentary sectional view showing the positions of the needle and the sinker when the needle is fullyraised;

Fig. 6b is a similar View showing the needle in fully lowered position and the sinker in an advanced position, and

Fig. 6 shows the needlein a lowered position and the smker in a retracted position;

Fig. 7 is a side view of a needle such as may be interspersed with needles of the type shown in Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a. diagrammatic View further illustrating the operation of the needles and sinkers upon the yarns;

Figs. 9 and 10l are respectively side and top views illustrating mechanisms whereby the operation of the needles shown in Fig. 3 may be varied.

Fig. 11 illustrates a pair of long and short butt needles adapted to be operated in a somewhat different manner;

Fig. '12 illustrates a pattern wheel of a type adapted to be used with the needles illustrated in Fig. 9;

Fig. 13 is a rear view of a fabric embodying various designs contemplated by the invention;

Fig. 14 shows a needle arrangement whereby the design of Fig. 13 may be produced;

Fig. 15 is a diagrammatic View of pattern wheels whereby these needles may be actuated to produce such a fabric;

Fig. 16 is a diagrammatic view showin a fabric embodying other designs `whic may be produced by the invention;

, Fig. 17 illustrates a needle arrangement for the production of such fabric;

Fig. 18 is a diagrammatic view of the pattern wheels employed in the production of the fabric shown in Fig. 16;

Fig. 19 is a diagrammatic showing of a fabric embodying still another design;

Fig. 20 is a rear view of a fabric embodying a different design;

Figs. 21 `and 22 are views illustratingv a pattern wheel arrange to produce such a. fabric; r

Fig. 23 shows a fabric embodying three sets of yarns; f

Figs. 24 and 25 illustrate diagrammatically mechanism whereby such a fabric may be produced;

Fig. 26 is a .sectional View of the needle cylinder and the cam cylinder illustrating one of the needles and one of the pattern wheels shown in Figs. 24 and 25;

Figs. 27 and 28 are somewhat diagrammatic views of a different form of mechanism whereby a fabric such as contemplated by the inventionmay be produced; and

Fig. 29 is a vertical section of the needle cylinder further illustrating this mechanism.

The invention contemplates the provision of a machine and method whereby there may be produced a fabric of the general type heretofore disclosed in my Patents Nos. 1,426,57 6, dated August 22, 1922, and 1,541,- 230, dated June 9, 1925, and exemplified in Fig. 1 wherein two sets of yarn strands are so combined as to form in one portion of the fabric a series of rows of interknitted loops of one set of yarns,and in, another portion of the fabric a series of rows of interknitted loops of another set. In each portion of the fabric wherein one set of yarns are looped the yarns of the other set are unlooped and are carried substantially to the rear of the looped yarns so as not materially to affect the color, texture, or other characteristic of the front of the fabric as determined by the looped yarn. f With a view to the provision of a strong and durable fabric, the unlooped portions of each yarn, instead of being ioated across the rear of the interknitted loopsn of yarn of the other set-in which position they would not add to the strength of the fabric to any great extent and would also be liable to catch on anyobstructions to and to be pulled out or brokcn-, are interlocked between the loops of adjacent rows of the interknitted yarns in certain of the wales thereof. While the particular wales of each looped portion in which the interlocking occurs may be varied in accordance with the sizeof the loops, the

the fabric is to be put, as well as various other factors which will be apparent to one skilled in thev art, it is desirable that the interlocking take place in only a portion of the wales of each sectionA of interknitted loops, since the unlooped portions will be b ound more rmly in the fabric and will be eifectually prevented from being pulled therethrough if they followv a somewhat zi zag course, being interlocked between loops in one wale and being carried entirely to the rear of theloops in an adjacent Wale. It is preferable, in fact, to have each unlooped portion follow a course wherein it is interlocked between the loops of adjacent rows in alternate wales while being carried entirely to the rear of the loops in the remaining wales: One fabric of this general type is disclosed in my Patent No. 1,426,- 57 6, dated August 22, 1922.

In the particular arrangement shown in Fig. 1, a set of yarn strands 40, which are shown` unshaded and will be referred to as white yarn, are formed into a series of rows' of interknitted loops to provide wales c, andv c in a section A of the fabric shown at the left of the figure, and unlooped portions of a set of strands of yarn which are shown shaded and will be referred to as red yarn are interlocked between the loops of adjacent rows in wales a, and c and while being carried entirely to the rear of the loops in wale b and the red yarn is formed into a series of inter knitted loops providing wales d, e and f in a section B shown at the right of the figure and unlooped portions of the white yarn are interlocked between loops of adjacent rows in the wales d and f while being carried entirely to the rear of the loops in the wale c. The loops may, of course,'be more or less tightly knit and the unlooped portions be more or less tightly drawn through the looped sections in accordance with the particular type of fabric desired.

There is disclosed in my Patent No..1,541, 230, dated June 9, 1925, a machine whereby fabrics of this general type may be produced. In the arrangement there shownv there are employedva series of groups of needles having butts disposed on different horizontal planes and actuating means therefor consisting of cams arranged to operate the needles in certain predetermined ways. iVith a view to providing a machine which requires less space for the needles, and wherein the actuating means are readily adjustable and replaceable to knit fabrics embodying any of a wide variety of pleasing effects and designs, as well as to providing mechanism which can be readily incorporated into independent needle machines of the type commonly used in commercial practice, the present invention contemplates in certain of its aspects the employment of needle actulili) ating means includin a pattern Wheel, and needles of a type w lich may readily and safely bc actuated by such means. In order that certain of the needles may be actuated independently of adjacent needles, it is desirable to employ needles some of which have long butts and others of wl ich have short butts, and prior to the present invention no means have been devised whereby a pattern wheel might be employed in connection with long and short butt needles, since, if the butts are made of sufficient length to satisfy the requirements of commercial practice, the long butts would tend to be caught in and bent or twisted by the groovesl and slots of the pattern wheel. To this end there is provided by the present invention mechanism of such nature as to permit a pattern wheel to be employed with safety to actuate both long and short butt needles.

Mechanism of one such type is illustrated in Figs. 8 to 7 inclusive in connection with a knitting machine including in the prese-nt instance a stationary needle cylinder 42 and a cam cylinder 43 adapted for rotation about the needle cylinder in the direction of the arrows in Figs, Band 5. Carried by the cylinder 42 is a row of needles 44 which are divided into two or more groups such as the groups G1, G2, Grs and G4, the members of which are adapted to be advanced and retracted in a manner such as exemplified in my Patent No. 1,541,230, or in any other suitable manner, to manipulate two or more yarns to produce fabric sections of the general type illustrated at the right and at the left of Fig. 1. The needles as exemplified, are of the latched type and have formed thereon butted portions 45 comprising lower extensions or butt members 46 and upper extensions or butt members 47. The lower butt members 46 extend outwardly from the Shanks a similar distance on all the needles while the upper members 47 on certain of the needles 48 (see Fig. 6), are vextended outwardly at 47 to a greater extent than the butt members 47 on others of the needles 49 (see Fig. 7). While the butted portions of the needles are shown in Figs. 6 and 7 in the form of a single extension from the shank thereof, it will be apparent that the butt members 46 and 47 may be in the form of independent extensions from the needle Shanks.

As will be observed from Figs. 3 and 5,

the long butt and short butt. needles 48 and 49 respectively are in the present instance arranged in alternation throughout the row. It will be apparent, however, that if it is desired to produce a fabric wherein the yarns are arranged in the precise manner shown in Fig. 1 with the unlooped portions of each yarn interlocked between loops of yarn of the other set in a Wale adjacent the rfabric section wherein the particular yarn is itself looped, as in the Wales c and d in Fig. 1, the positions of the long butt needles and the short butt needles in the groups Gr1 and G4, may be reversed, for example, so as to produce an arrangement similar to the arrangement in the groups G2 and G3. Similarly, if it is desired to produce a fabric whereinthe unlooped portions are carried entirely to the rear of each of the adjacent wales of dierent yarns, the needle arrangement may be altered so that in groups G2 and G3 the positions of the long butt and short butt needles will be reversed to make the arrangement in these groups similar to the arrangement in groups G1 and G4. Alsoby positioning two or more needles of a -single type adjacent one another within the group, other yarn arrangements may be secured. Thus it will be evident that by altering the arrangement of the needles in the various groups the unlooped yarn may he caused to follow any desired course throughout the looped portion.

The cam cylinder 43 in the present instance is arranged to support a yarn carrier 50 to feed a yarn 50 to the needles and a yarn carrier 51 to feed a yarn 51 thereto, and there is provided on this cylinder suitable mechanism for causing the proper needles to receive cach of these yarns and to manipulate the same in the desired manner. As exemplified, this mechanism includes means to actuate the needles for the manipulation of a yarn 50', comprising a cam 52 adapted to operate upon the lower edges of the butt members 46 of all the needles partially to raise the same, a pattern wheel 53 adapted fully to raise all the needles of certain of the groups while passing the needles of other groups, a thin cam 54 adapted to depress the long butt needles passed by the pattern wheel, a cam 55 adapted fully to depress all the needles after the passage of the yarn carrier 50 and a cam 56 to return the needles to their original position. The mechanism also includes means to act-nate the needles for the manipulation of the yarn 5l', comprising a cam 57 similar to cam 52, a pattern wheel 58 adapted fully to raise the needles passed by the wheel 53 and to pass the needles of the remaining groups, and the cams 59, 60 and 61, which are substantially similar respectively to the cams 54. 55 and 56. As will be observed from Fig. 5, the pattern Wheels 53 and 58 each comprise in the present instance two sectors, one of which is formed with a series of grooves 62 of the usual type adapted to receive the butt members 46 and to raise the same,- and the other of which is formed with a series of slots 63 adapted to receive the butt members 46 without actuating the same. In the present exemplification, the grooved sector of the pattern wheel 53 is so positioned as to actuate the needles lll.;

llt)

in certain groups such as the groups G1 and G3, while the grooved sector of the pattern wheel 58 is positioned to actuate the needles of certain other groups, suclras the groups G2 and G4; whereby the needles of the groups G, and G3 will be fully raised s0 as to enable them to knit loops of the yarn 50', while the needles of the groups G, and

wheel.

G, will be fully raised so as to enable them to knit loops of the yarn 5l. It will also be observed that the cam 54 acts to lower the long butt needles 48 of groups such as G2 and G4, the needles of which were passed by the wheel 53, so that only the needles 49 of these groups will .receive the yarn 50 along with the looped yarn 51', and that the cam 59 arts to lower the long butt needles 49 of groups A', such as the groups G, and G3, the needles of which were passed by the wheel 58, so that only the short butt needles-of this group will receive the yarn 5] alpng with the looped yarn 50. In this mann'jer the unlooped portions of each yarn may be placed in posit-ion for proper interlocking in the wales corresponding to the long-butt needles. In order positively to prevent the accidental upward displacement of the long butt needles by the slotted portions of the pattern wheel, whereby the extensions 47 thereon might be brought in line with the points of the cams 54 or 59, the pointed ends of these cams are extended as at 64; so as to occupy a position projecting over a substantial portion of the pattern Themumber of indentations in each sector of the pattern wheels and the number of needles in each group may, of course, be varied from those shown in Figs. 3 and 5. In fact, the number ofV indent-ations shown in the wheels 53 and 58 in Fig. 5 is limited to thirteen merely for the sake of convenience of illustration, and a preferred forni of these wheels is illustrated in connection with the pattern wheel shown in Fig. 6. It will, moreover, be appreciated that the invention is not limited to a twofeed machine, but that any larger number of yarn feeds may be employed, it being desirable, of course, if a two-color fabric is to be produced, that the number of feeds be. divisible by two.

There are provided intermediate the needles a plurality of sinkers G5 formed at their outer. ends with projections 66 extending into a groove 67 formed in a sinker guide 68 carried in the cam cylinder, the side of the sinker guide being bent as at 69 and 70 to cause the sinkers to be moved inwardly to cast oft' loops and to press the unlooped yarn to the rear of the needles by which it is not caught. In certain cases it is desirable to provide separate means for controlling t-he tightness of the interknitted loops and the tightness of the unlooped, interlocked yarn,l

and accordinglyy the exemplified mechanism is arranged to effect such independent control. To this end the sinkers are formed in the present instance with upper yarn receiving surfaces 71 and 72 positioned at different levels, and the groove 67 is formed wider than the extension 66 so that the sinkers may be moved longitudinally to place either the surface 71 or the surface 72 in line with the needles; whereby, when the needles are lowered, the yarn'held therein will be drawn over either one or the other of these surfaces in the manner illustrated in Figs. 6"

and 6, respectively, and in Fig. 8. As exemplified, the mechanism is arranged for the production of a fabric Whereihthe looped portions of the yarns will be relatively loosely inter-knitted and wherein the unlooped portions will be relatively tightly drawn through the interknitted loops; and to this end means are provided for positioning the sinkers with the lower yarn surface 72 in line with the needles during the retraction thereof, so as to place the yarn in interlocking position, and for4 positioning the sinkers with the upper yarn surface 7l in line with the needles during the retraction thereof to knit -loops. This means comprises in the present instance of a cam surface, such as a surface 7S provided by the needle guide, for moving all the sinkers outwardly to the position shown in Figs. 6 and 6, wherein yarn surface 7 2 is in operative position, and a pin 74 on one side of the sinkers and an inwardly extending projection 75 provided with a sloping surface 76y on the needle shank so that when the needles are fully raised the projection will act upon the pin 74 to move the sinkers to the position shown in Figs. 6a and 6, so as to place the yarn surface 7l in operative position. It will thus be apparent that, except when the needles have been fully raised, the yarn'received thereby willbe drawn over the yarn surfaces 72 on the sinkers upon the retraction of the needles; but that after the needles have been fully raised for knitting loops the yarn will be extended over the yarn surfaces 7l of the sinkers upon the retraction of the needles.

It is sometimes desirable to have the needles of at least certain groups fully raised to receive yarn from each of the yarn carriers during certain portions of the operation of the machine whereby jersey cloth may be produced. In this Way fabrics which have various pleasing design effects incorporated therein may be provided; or, in the production of certain articles of apparel, the type of knit may be suited to the requirements of different portions of the article. To this end there are provided means whereby all the needles may be fully raised to receive yarn at any of said yarn carriers regardless of the operation of the various pattern wheels and setting cams.

As exemplified in Figs. 3, 9 and 10, this means comprises a cam movable between an inoperative position and a position wherein it acts subsequent to the passage of the setting cams and the pattern wheel (exemplified by the members 52, 53 and 54) fully to raise ally of those needles which, after the passage of the setting members, are not already in a fully raised position. The cam' 80 in the present instance is secured to a spindle 81 which is rotatably mounted in a suitable bearing 82 carried by the cam cylinder 43; and in order readily to effectuate the movement of the cam there is provided a lever 83 secured to the spindle 81 and operable manually by means of a handle 84. For the purpose of limiting the movement of the cani 80 when it reaches either its lower or its upper position, the lever 83 is formed with notches 84 andv there is provided a catch 85 which is pressed by means of a spring 85 against the notched surface of the lever. In case it is desired to operate the lever 83 automatically from time to time during the operation of the machine, there may be provided lever operating mechanism which, as exemplified, includes a tripping member 86 rotatably mounted at 87 adjacent one of its ends to a stationary brace 88. The tripping member 86 is movable between a lower position wherein it acts on the head 89 of the lever 83 to move the latter downwardly and an upper position wherein it acts on the head 89 to move the lever upwardly, and is actuated by a slidable bolt 90 which is slidably mounted in the stationary brace 88. The bolt 90 is adapted to move in response to the movement of apivot arm 91 which is arranged to be raised by means of cams 92 carried by the links of a continuous chain 93, which is supported and rotated by a cog wheel 94.

While Fig. 3 illustrates mechanism of a type which is well suited for the production of interlock fabrics, it will be appreciated that various other mechanisms for effectuating properneedle movement may be employed, and particularly that other forms of needle butts and pattern wheels may be used, providing that the safety requirements are met. The invention contemplates, for example, the employment, in place of the needles 48 and 49 respectively, of needles having butted portions such as shown in conlnection with the needles 98 and 99 in Fig.

11. The butted portion 100 of the needle 99 is preferably similar to the butted portions of the needles 49, but the butted portion 101 of the needle 98 as exemplified is of additional length throughout its entire vertical extent. Since the butted portions 101 would tend to jam in the slots and be twisted by the grooves of the pattern wheels 53 and 58, there may be provided pattern wheels of the type yexemplified by the wheel 102 shown in Fig. 12 for the actuation of these needles. The wheel 102 comprises a grooved sector 103 and a slotted sector 104, and is so formed, in the present instance, that the radius of the periphery of grooved sector is equal in length to the radii of the peripheries of the wheels 53 and 58, so that all the needles of one group will be actuated thereby, but this sector is recessed at 105 adjacent its outer edge, so that the grooves therein will extend outwardly a sufficient distance only to receive the outer ends of the long butts 101, the recess preferably extending inwardly a sufi'icient extent so that the short butts 100 will not be received by the grooves, The construction of a wheel sector ofl this type is more fully brought out in the illustration of the sector 124. of the wheel 122 shown in Fig. 21. The radius of the sector 104 of the wheel 102 as exemplified is shorter than the radius of sector 103 so that the slots will receive only the outer portion of the long butts 101` In this manner any danger of the butts of the needles being caught or twisted by the pattern wheel is avoided. 0f course, if the pattern wheels are to be rotated by the needle butts, the long butt need-les must appear in the row with sufficient frequency properly to rotate these Wheels. As will be readily apparent, moreover, the pattern wheel illustrated in Fig. 12 is adapted for use in mechanisms of various types, as for example, mechanism similar to that shown in Fig. 3 but having the cams adjusted so as to operate on long butt and short butt needles of the type illustrated in my application, Patent No. 1,541,230, above referred to.

Since it is a comparatively simple matter to replace one pattern wheel by another wheel having a different arrangement of slots and grooves, the use'of pattern wheels renders possible the employment of a machine of the general type exemplified for the productionY of fabrics embodying a large variety of designs. There is illustrated in Fig. 13 one fabric wherein the yarns vare arranged so as to produce certain novel design combinations which may be formed by the manipulation, for example, of a plurality of white yarns W71, W2 and W, and a plurality of red yarns R1, R2 and R3. The fabric, as exemplified, consists of four wales of jersey cloth wherein all six yarns are interknitted, three wales of interknit-led loops of the white yarn to the rear of which the red yarn strands are tightly drawn, three other wales in which the six yarns are interknitted, eight wales wherein the red yarns are interknitted to form loops with which the white yarns are interlocked in all except one of alternate waleswnamely, in theA 2nd, 6th and 8th wales--while being carried loosely to the rear remaining wales and six succeeding wales wherein the loops of the white yarn are interknitted and the red yarn interlocked in alternate wales of the interknitted loops and a final three wales of jersey cloth'similar to the first four wales. A needle arrangement whereby this fabric may be produced is shown diagrammatically in Fig. `14, the long butt needles being indicated at 48 and the short butt needles at 49. It will be noted that each needle shown in Fig. 14 is arranged directly underneath the Wale in Fig. 18 produced thereby. Fig. 15 is a diagrammatic illustration of pattern Wheels PRAM PW1, PE2, PWz, FR3 and PIV3 adapted to operate on the needles of F ig. 14 to manipulate respectively the yarns R1 to lVs inclusive to form fabric at Fig. 13. In this showing only the slots of the pattern wheels are' indicated, the grooved portions being represented by straight lines. A

Fig. 16 is a diagrammatic showing of a fabric embodying other design features which may be4 produced in accordance with the invention. In this showing the vertical lines represent wales; the heavy horizontal lines, loops of the yarnk of one set (yellow yarn, for example), and the light horizontal lines, loops of another set of yarns (for example, yarn having a blue color). In the fabric here exemplified the yarns are so combined as to provide yellow and blue stripes extending diagonally of the wales of the fabric and'also to provide in the front of a section of the fabric wherein loops of yarn of the one color predominate a plurality of dots 'of another color. These dots are formed in the present instance either by the provision of a single loop of one yarn interlrnitted with adjacent rows of loops of yarn of another set `in a single wale, as indicated at 107, or by substituting a loop of one yarn for aloop of one of adjacent rows of loops of yarn of another set as indicated at 108. Such a fabric may be readily produced by the manipulation of two sets of yarn strands b a row of long butt needles 48 and short butt needles 49 arranged in alternation as shown at Fig. 17 and actuated by a plurality of pattern wheels 110 to 117 inclusive, which are set in the relative positions and are provided with the slot and groove arrangements illustrated in Fig. 18. In this figure the particular yarn looped in response to the needle actuation of each wheel is indicated at the'left of the figure. A

In order that the stripes of each color may continue in an unbroken diagonal line throughoutfthe fabric, the pattern wheels may be so formed that the total number of indentations (slots and grooves) therein will be incommensurate with the number of needles in the row; the number of indentations in thepattern wheels 110 to 117 inclusive and the number of needles in the row actuated thereby being such, in the present instance, that at each successive operation ofeach of these'wheels upon any particular portion of the row of' needles, the wheel in question Vwill pass the first four needles of the group previously actuated thereby and will actuate the first four needles -in an adjacent group which was previously passed.

From the above, it will be apparent that by the employment of a series of pairs of similarly positioned pattern Wheels so formed as to rovide a plurality of indentations, the num er of which is such that either the number itself or a multiple thereof will be greater by four than the number of needles in the row, there may be produced a fabric of the type illustrated in Fig. 19 wherein the heavy vertical lines represent wales of yarn of one color and the light vertical lines represent wales of yarn of another color. .It will also be apparent that various other modifications may be made in the mechanism -above exemplified in order to meet the requirements of a ,particular case. If, for eXample,'it is desired to employ a machine of the ordinary commercial type carrying eight-hundred-and-four needles to-manipulate the yarns carried by two yarn carriers whereby to produce a fabric having diagonal stripes of the generalnature of the stripes shownin Fig. 16, the pattern wheel for actuating the needles prior to the passage of each yarn carrier may be formed with one-hundred-and-ifteen indentations.

In certain cases, and particularly when single ply fabric is to be employed in artlcles wherein both sides of the fabric are ordinarily visible, it is sometimesdesirable to incorporate designs in the rear of the fabric. Suchv designs may be providedvbyY y the fabric shown in Fig. 13 or in the central wales of the fabric illustrated in Fig. 20. As exemplified, the latter fabric consists of a series of rows of nterknitted loops of a yarn 120 with a yarn 121 interlocked with the looped yarn in the 1st, 3rd, 12th and 14th wales and carried loosely to the rear of the looped yarn in the 2nd and 13th wales, while being drawn tightly to the rear ofthe looped yarn in all wales from the 4th to the 11th Wale. In order to produce such a fabric there may be employed various pattern wheel and cam arrangements. If, fog example, it is desired to employ pattern wheels similar to the wheels 53 and 58 there Amay be substituted for one or both of the cams 54 and 59 a pattern wheel of the general type exemplied by the wheel 122 in Figs. 21 and 22. This patternwheel is formed to provide a pair of grooved sectors 123, the radius of which is sufficiently small so that only the nate wales.

long butt needles will be depressed therebyl number of sets of yarns into a fabric to produce, for example, three, four or more fab ric sections, each having a dierent color. In the formation of a fabric embodying` three sets of yarns it is possible to produce an exceedingly strong and durable fabric by so manipulating the yarns that in each section of interknitted loops of one set of yarns, the unlooped portions of the other years will be interlocked in a different series of alter- One arrangement of this type is illustrated in Fig. 23, which shows fabric embodying a set of black yarn strands 200, a set of white yarn strands 201, and a set of red yarn strands 202, which are so combined as to form a series of wales g to s inclusive, the black yarn being looped in the wales g,'h, g, 1' and s, the white yarn being looped in the wales z', j, c and Z, and the red yarn being looped in the wales m, a, o and p.

The white yarn is interlocked between the loops of black yarn in the wales L and fr', while being carried entirely to the rear of the loops in the adjacent wales g, g and s, and the red yarn is interlocked between the loops forming the latter wales while being carried entirely to 'the rear of thek wales /L and r. Similarly, the red yarn is interlocked in the wales i and lo of the white yarn and the black yarn interlocked in the wales j and l; and in like manner the black yarn is interloeked in the wales n and o of the red yarn and the white yarn is interlocked in the wales n and p.

In Fig. 24 there is illustrated one type of mechanism whereby three yarns or any number of yarns which is a multiple of three may be manipulated to form a double interlock fabric of the general type shown in Fig. 23. It will be understood that this mechanism may in general be similar -to the mechanism exemplified in connection with Figs. 3, 4,I

and 6and may include yarn carriers such as shown at 203, 204, and205, arranged to feed yarns 206, 207, and 208 respectively and a row of interspersed long butt needles 210 and short butt needles 211. These needles may be substantially similar to the needles 48 and'49, except that there is provided on the Shanks thereof at a point disposed in the present instance beneath the butted portions 45, an additional butt member 212 (see Fig. 26). As exemplified, the mechanism for the manipulation of the yarn 206 includes a setting cam 213 similar to the cams 52 and 57, a pattern wheel 214 comprising a grooved sector 215 and two slotted sectors 216 and 217; a setting cam 218 similar to the cams 54 and 59, a retracting cam 219 similar to the cams 55 and 60, and a restoring cam 220. The mechanism rfor actuating the needles to manipulate the yarn 207 includes a primary setting cam 221, a pattern wheel 222, which comprises a grooved sector 217a and slotted sectors 215a and 216, a setting cam 223 which is of full width so as to lower all the needles passed by the pattern wheels, a setting cam 224 which is arranged to raise the long butt needles lowered by the cam 223, and cams 225 and 226 for the retraction and restoration of needles. The mechanism for the manipulation of the yarn 208 is designed to cause the needles passed by both pattern wheels 214 and 222 to be fully raised to cause the needles passed by the wheel 21.4 and lowered by the cam 218 to be partially raised, and to cause the needles passed by the pattern wheel 222 and also passed by the cani 224 to be partially raised, and includes a primary setting cam 227, a pattern wheel 228 comprising a grooved sector 216b and slotted sectors 215b and 217", a cam 229 operative upon the butts 212 of the needles passed by the pattern wheel 228 to lower these needles, a pattern wheel 230 which is grooved and slotted in the mannerillustrated in Fig. 25, whereby partial advance of the lowered needles as above set forth is accomplished, and retracting and restoring cams 231 and 232. It will be noted that the butts 212 on the needles are so positioned that when the needles are fully raised these butts will cooperate with the grooves of the pattern wheel 230 to assure a continuous rotation of the same.

f In certain cases it is desirable to employ needles having butts of a single type as, for example, needles of the type ordinarily em- \ployed in knitting machines such as exemplified by theneedle 235 in Fig. 20 and to this end there may be provided a pair of pattern wheels'to position the needles for the reception of yarn at each feed. An arrangement suitable for .use in combining three yarns such as the yarns 206, 207 and 208` into a double-interlock fabric is shown iu Figs. 27, 28 and 29. The mechanism exemplified includes a row of needles 235, a pair of pattern wheels 236 and 237 arranged to set the needles for the reception of the yarn 206, a pair of wheels 238 and 239 to set the needles for the reception of the yarn 207, and a pair of wheels 240 and 241 to set the needles for the reception of the yarn 208. The even numbered wheels 236, 238 and 240 include grooved sectors whereby all the needles of certain of groups Gf, GW and G" are partially raised and sectors which in the present instance are alternately grooved and slotted partially to advance alternate ones of the needles of the remaining groups, and the odd numbered wheels are arranged fully to raise the needles of those groups, all the needles of which were partially raised by the preceding wheel and to pass the remaining needles. Retracting and restoring cams, such as shown at 242 and 243 may, of course, be provided at each feed.

It is, moreover, often desirable to provide means whereby the needles may be guided and prevented from shifting position between successive setting members and to this end there may be provided guiding members such as shown at 244, 245 and 246 in Figi 27.

It will be appreciated. that the inclination I of the various pattern wheels exemplified may be regulated in accordance with the requirements of a particular case. In fact under vcertain conditions the pattern wheels may be inclined sufficiently to move they needles from their normal lower position to their fullyy raised position so that the primary setting cams may be omitted, in which case the cams such as shown at 54 and 59` in Fig. 3, and at 218 in Fig. 24, may be replaced by setting cams similar to the cam 224 in the latter figure, and such other changes may be made in the mechanisms exempliiied as may be desirable.

It will also be appreciated that the invention, in certain of itsaspe'cts, is not limited to a machine employing latched needles, but that other types of needles may be employed.

The term yarn as employed herein is of course intended to include threads of an type regardless of the material of which the same are composed or the cross-sectional contour of the same. Applications claiming subject matter divided out of this apilicaerial 'tion have been iiled by me as follows:

No. 302,098, tiled August 25, 1928; and Serial No. 308,452, sled september 26, 1928.

Since certain changes may be made in carrying out the above method and in the constructions and'products set forth Without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

It is also to vbe understood that the fol lowing claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described, and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall` therebetween.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. The method of knitting a plurality of independent yarns into a fabric which comprises causing a group of adjacent members of a row of needles t0 be placed in a fully advanced position to receive a yarn, causing only certain needles of a second group to be placed in a partially advanced position to receive said yarn, causing onl certain needles of a third group to be p aced in a partially advanced position to receive said yarn and retractin the advanced needles, thereafter causing a l the needles of the second group to be placed in a fully advanced position to receive a second yarn, causing only certain of the needles of the first group to be placed in a partially advanced to receive said second yarn, and causing certain of the needles of the third group not positioned to receive said first yarn to be placed in a partially advanced position to receive said second yarn, and retracting the advanced needles, and subsequently causing all the needles of the third group to be placed in a fully advanced position to receive a third yarn, causing certain needles of the first group not positioned to receive said secyond yarn to be placed in a partially advanced position to receive said third yarn,

`and causing certain needles of the second group not positioned to receive said first yarn to be placed in a partially advanced position to receive said third yarn, and retracting the advancedv needles.

2. In a knitting machine, in combination, a row of needles, a plurality of needle actuating means including a pattern wheel, each of said needles being formed with a butted portion including an extension adapted to rotate said pattern wheel, said extensions being of substantially equal length said pattern wheel being arranged to be operative on certain of said extensions to actuate certain of said needles, said butted portion also including an extension to be actuated by certain other of said actuating means, and said latter extensions being of varying length on different needles whereby certain of the needles may be actuated independently of the other needles.

3. A knitting machine, including a plurality of needles provided with butts on the Shanks thereof, the butts on all of said needles extending a given distance from said shanks and a portion of each of the butts on certain of said needles extending a greater distance from the shank thereof, and a pattern wheel arranged to cooperate with said butts to actuate said needles.

4. In a knitting machine, a rowof needles, each of said needles being formed with a longitudinally extended butt and the butt of each of a plurality of said needles being formed with a supplemental butt extending from a portion of its outeredge adjacent to one end thereof, mechanism including a pattern wheel operative upon the opposite ends of the butts of certain of the needles of said row to actuate the same, and means operative only7 upon such supplemental position A butts to actuate needles having such butts.

5. A knitting machine including a 1urality of yarn carriers for indepen ent yarns, a row of needles, means to cause one group of adjacent needles to be placed in a fully advanced position to receive yarn from one of said yarn carriers, means t0 cause only certain of the needles of said group to be placed in a partially advanced position to receive yarn from a second yarn carrier, means to cause only certain other of the needles of said group to be placed in a partially advanced position to receive yarn from a third yarn carrier, means to cause a second group of adjacent needles to be placed in a fully advanced position to receive yarn from said second yarn carrier, means to cause only certain of the needles of said second group to be placed `in a artially advanced position to receive yarn om said third yarn carrier, means to cause only certain other needles of said second group to be placed in a partially advanced position to receive yarn from said first yarn carrier, means to cause the third group of adjacent needles to be placed in a fully advanced position to receive yarn from said third yarn carrier, means to cause only certain of the needles of said third group to be placed in a partially advanced position to receive yarn from said first yarn carrier, and means to cause certain other needles of said third group to be placed in a partially advanced position to receive the yarn from the second yarn carrier.

6. A knitting machine including a plurality of yarn carriers for independent yarns, a row of needles, means for causing one group of adjacent needles to be placed in a fully advanced position to receive yarn from one of said yarn carriers, means to cause only alternate needles of said group to be placed in a partially advanced position to receive yarn from a second yarn carrier, means tocause only the remainder of the needles of said group to be placed in a partially advanced position to receive yarn from a third yarn carrier, means to cause a second group of adjacent needles to be placed in a fully advanced position to receive yarn from said second yarn carrier, means to cause only alternate needles of said second roup to be placed in a partially advanced position to receive yarn from said third yarn carrier, means to cause only the remainder of the needles of said second group to be placed in a partially advanced position-to receive yarns of said first yarn carrier, means to cause the third group of adjacent needles to be placed in a fully advanced position to receive yarn from said third yarn carrier, means to cause only alternate needles of said thirdgroup to be placed in a partially advanced position to receive yarn from said rst yarn carrier, and means to cause only the rcmainder of the needles of said third group to be placed in a partially advanced posltion to receive yarn from said second yarn carrier.

7. A knitting machine including a row of needles, some of said needles having long butt-portions and others having short buttportions, a pattern wheel adapted to actuate certain of the long butt and short butt needles and to pass others thereof, a cam adapted to operate on the unactuated long butt needles for separating the actuated and the unactuated long butt needles, and an element carried by said cam and extending in a plane intersecting the path of movement of the needles by said pattern Wheel for preventing accidental vertical displacement of the long butt needles prior to the separation thereof by said cam.

8. A knitting machine including a row of needles, some of said needles having long butts and others having short butts, said lon butt needles being interspersed with sai short butt needles throughout said row and each of said needles being formed with secondary butts disposed longitudinally of the aforesaid butts, a pattern wheel formed with slotted portions adapted to cooperate with the secondary butts of certain of said needles to cause the rotation of the pattern Wheel, and formed with grooved portions adapted to cooperate with the secondary butts of other of said needles to cause the rotation of the pattern wheel, and to advance said other of the needles, and cam means to retract the lon butt needles escaping from said slots, sai cam being formed with a shoulder adapted to prevent the accidental advance of the lon butt needles by' the slotted portions of t e pattern wheel.

9. A knitting machine including a series of adjacent needles and a plurality of yarn carriers, said needles and said yarn carriers being mounted for relative movement, means to move each one of said series of needles to a partially advanced position such to retract alternate needles of each remaining group from said partially advanced position, means operative after the passage of said one of sald yarn carriers to retract all the other advanced needles, means opera.- tive thereafter to move each one of said tive after the passage of series of needles to a partially advanced sition, such that they will recelve yarn rom a yarn carrier unless removed from such position prior to the .passage of the yarn carrier, means operatlve thereafter to move the needles of certain other groups'to a fully advanced yarn-receiving position, the last-mentioned means comprising a rotatable pattern-control element, means operative after the last-mentioned means and before the passage yof a second yarn carrier to retract alternate needles of each remaining group, and means operative after the passage of said second yarn carrier to retract all the other advanced needles.

10. A circular knitting machine including a series of latched needles, each of said needles being formed with a yarn-receiving member and a butt, the distance between the yarnreceivin member and the butt on the various needles riers mounted lfor rotative movement with respect to said series of needles, means to move each one of said series of needles to au partially advanced position such thatthey will receive yarn from a yarn carrier unless removed from such position prior to the passage of the yarn carrier, meansoperative thereafter to move certain groups of said needles to a fully advanced yarn-receiving position such that upon the retraction of the fully-advanced needles they will knit loops of yarn received thereby, the last-mentioned means comprising a rotatable pattern-control element, means operative after the lastmentioned means and before the passage of one of said yarn carriers to retract alternate needles of each remaining group from said partially advanced position, means operative after the passage of said one of said yarn carriers to retract all the other .advanced needles, means operative thereafter to move each one of said series of needles to a partially advanced position such that they will receive yarn from a yarn carrier unless removed from such position prior to the passage of the yarn carrier, means operative thereafter to move the needles of certain other groups to a fully advanced yarn-receiving position, the last-mentioned means comprlslng a rotatable pattern-control element, means operative after the last-mentloned means and before the passage of a second yarncarrier to retract alternate needles of each remaining group, and means operasaid second yarn carrier to retract all the other advanced needles.

11. A circular knitting machine including a' needle bed, a row of latched needles on said `needle bed, a member rotatable with respect ing equal, a plurality of yarn carcarriers in the direction of rotation; said mechanism including means to move each of said needles to a partially advanced position such that they will receive yarn from a yarn carrier unless removed from such position prior to the passage of the yarn carrier, means having a rolling contact with said needle bed and being adapted to move certain groups of said needles from said partially advanced position to a further advanced position such that upon the retraction thereof they will knit loops of the yarn received thereby, and means to retract lalternate needles of other groups from said partially advanced yarn-receiving position; kmeans positioned on said rotatable member behind said yarn carrier in the direction of rotation to retract all the other advanced needles; mechanism positioned on said rotatable member behind said last-mentioned mechanism and in advance of a second yarn carrier in the direction of rotation, and including means to move each of said needles to a partially advanced position such that they table member behind said second yarn car-- rier to retract all the other advanced needles.

12. A circular knitting machine including a needle cylinderand a rotatable cam cylinder; a row of vertical latched needles arranged about said needle cylinder, certain of said needles being formed with long butts and others being formed with short butts, the long-butt and short-butt needles being interspersed substantially in alternation throughout said row; a plurality of yarn carriers rotatable with said cam cylinder; 'a

mechanism carried by said cam cylinder to selectively actuate said needles for the manipulation of yarn fromone of said yarn carriers, said mechanism comprising cam means to raise all of said needles toa partially raised position such that they will receive yarn from a yarn carrier unless removed from such position prior to the passage of the yarn carrier a pattern wheel adapted fully to raise certain groups of needles while passing the remaining needles,

cam means adapted to depress the long-butt needles passed by the pattern wheel, theV` aforesaid means being operative prior to the passage of said one of said yarn carriers, and ymeans operative after the passage of said one of said yarn carriers to depress all of the raised needles; and mechanism also carriedv by said cam cylinder to selectively actuate said needles for the manipulation of yarn from another of said yarn carriers, said mechanism comprising cam means to ralse all of said needles to a partially raised position such that they will receive yarn from a yarn carrier unless removed from such position prior to the passage of the yarn carrier, a pattern wheel adapted fully to raise certain other groups of said needles while passing the remaining needles, cam means to depress the long-butt needles passed by the pattern wheel, the aforesaid means being operattive prior to the passage of said other of said yarn carriers, and cam means operative after the passage of said other of said yarn carriers to depress all of the raised needles.

13. A knitting machine includingr a row of needles, some of the needles having long butts and other of the needles having short butts, the long-butt needles being interspersed with the short-butt needles throughout said row and the distance between the yarn-receiving end and the butt of each needle being substantially the same as the distance between said parts on each of the other needles, a yarn carrier, said yarn car'- rier and said row of needles being mounted for relative movement, and needle-actuating means comprising a rotatable pattern-control element operative upon the needle butts to cause a group of said interspersed long butt and short butt needles to be in a fully advanced position at the time of the passage of said yarn carrier, and means to cause the short-butt needles of another group to be in a partially advanced position such that yarn will be received from a yarn carrier, but that loops will not be knitted upon the retraction of said needles, and the long-butt needles of said other group to be in a substantially unadvanced position at the time of passage of said yarn carrier.

14. In a knitting machine, a row of needles, certain of the needles being formed with long-butt portions, and other of the needles being formed with short-butt portions, the needles having long-butt portions being interspersed throughout said row with the needles having short-butt portionseach of the needles of said row being formed with other butt portions disposed at one side of the aforesaid butt portions, means to align a plurality of needles during a particular part of the operation of the machine, and means subsequently to selectively actuate certain of said plurality of needles, said lastmentioned means including a pattern wheel operative upon said other butt portions to acutate certain of said interspersed needles, and said last-mentioned means also including a cam member operat-ive only upon said long-butt portions to actuate certain of the long-butt needles.

15. A knitting machine including a series of needles formed with butt portions providing actuating surfaces of substantially equal length, certain of the needles being formed with supplemental butt portions extending from the needle shanks at a'point spaced from said actuating surfaces, and needle-actuating means including a pattern wheel operative upon said actuating surfaces and a cam operative upon said supplemental butt portions.

16. A knitting machine including a row of needles formed with lower butt portions of equal length, substantially alternate ones of said needles being formed with upper butt portions of greater length, and the remainder of the needles being formed with upper butt portions the length of which is not greater than the length of said lower butt portions, needle-operating means including a pattern wheel operative upon the lower butt portions of certain of the needles and cam means operative upon said upper butt portions of certain of the needles having said longer butt portions.

17. A knitting machine, including a row of needles formed with lower butt portions of equal length, substantially alternate ones of said needles being formed with upper butt portions of greater length, and the remainder of the needles being formed with upper butt portions the length of which is not greater than the length of said lower butt portions; means operative upon said lower butt portions partially to raise all the needles in said row; a pattern wheel operative upon said lower butt portions fully to raise oertain groups of the needles in said row; means operative upon those of the needles passed by said pattern wheel which have said longer upper butt portions to depress the same, and means operative at a later stage vin the operation of said machine upon the upper butt portions of all of the needles remaining in a raised position to depress the same.

18. A circular knitting machine, including a row of vertically-movable latched needles and aplurality of yarn carriers, said row of needles and said yarn carriers being mounted for relative rotative movement; means to move each one of said needles from a position`such that yarn will not be received from a yarn carrier by a needle toa partially advanced position such that yarn can be received from a yarn carrier but that previously received yarn is retained on the needle latch; a pattern wheel operative thereafter to select groups of said needles and to advance the needles in the selected groups from said partially advanced position to a fully advanced position such that y,

yarn previously received by a needle is free of the needle latch; means operative after said pattern wheel and before the passage of one of said yarn carriers to retract alternate needles of each group .remaining in said partially advanced position to a position such that said alternate needles will not receive yarn from the yarn carrier; stitch-fornin means operative after the passage of said one of said yarn carriers to retract all the other advanced needles; means operative thereafter to move each of the needles of said row to said partially advanced position; a pattern Wheel operative thereafter to select other groups and to advance the needles in such groups to said fully advanced position; means operative after the last-mentioned pattern wheel and before the passage of a second yarn carrier to retract alternate needles of each group not selected by the second pattern Wheel; and stitch-forming means operative after the passage of said second yarn carrier to retract all the other advanced needles.

Y 19. A circular knitting machine, including a row of vertically-movable latchd needles and a plurality of yarn carriers, said rovvr of needles and said yarn carriers being mounted for relative rotative movement; a cam operative to move each one of said needles from a position such that yarn will not be received from a yarn carrier by a needle to a partially advanced position such that yarn can be received from a yarn carrier but that previously received yarn is retained on the Y needle latch; al pattern wheel operative thereafter to select groups of said needles and to advance the needles in the selected groups from said partially advanced position to a fully advanced position such that yarn previously received by a needle is .free of the needle latch; a cam operative after said pattern wheel and before the passage of one of said yarn carriers to retract alternate needles of each group remaining in said partially advanced position "to a position such that said alternate needles will not re ceive yarn from the yarn carrier; stitchforming means operative after the passage of said one of said yarn carriers toretract 'all the other advanced needles; a cam operative thereafter'to move each of the needles of said row to said partially advanced position; a pattern Wheel operative thereafter vto select groups not selected by the aforesaid vpattern wheel and to advance the needles in such groups to said fully advanced position; a cam operative after the last-mentioned pattern wheel and before the passage of a second yarn carrier to retract alternate needles of each group not selected by the second pattern Wheel; and stitchforining means operative after the passage of said second yarn carrier to retract all the other advanced needles.A

20. A circular knitting machine, including a row of vertically-movable latched needles and a plurality of yarn carriers, said row of needles and said yarn carriers being mounted for relative rotative movement,

certain of said needles being formed withl alternation with the needles having shortk butt-portions, each of the needles of said rovi7 being formed with other butt-portions disposed at one side of the aforesaid buttportions; means to move each one of said needles from a position such that yarn will not be received from a yarn carrier by a needle to a partially advanced position such that yarn can be received from a yarn carrier but that previously received yarn is retained on the needle latch; a pattern Wheel acting thereafter to select groups of said needles and operative on said other butt portions to advance the needles in the selected groups from said partially advanced position to a fully advanced position such that yarn previously received by a needle is free of the needle latch, means acting after said pattern wheel and before the passage of one of said yarn carriers and operative on the long butt-portions of the long-butt needles in each groupv remaining in said partially advanced position to retract such needles to a position such that the needles will not receive yarn from the yarn carrier, stitch-forming means operative after the passage of said one of said yarn carriers to retract all the other advanced needles, means operative thereafter tov move each of the needles of said row to a partially advanced position, a pattern wheel acting thereafter to select other groups of said needles and operative on said other butt portions to advance` the needles in such groups to said fully advanced position, means acting after the last-mentioned pattern wheel and before thel passage of a second yarn carrier and operative on the long butt-portions of the long-butt needles of each group not selected by the secondpattern wheel to retract the same, and stitch-forming means operative after the passage of said second yarn carrier to retract all the other advanced needles.

21. A knitting machine, including arow of needles, each comprising a shank, a arnreceiving member atoiie end of the sank, and a butt rojecting outwardly from the shank, the distance from the yarn-receiving member and the butt on each needle being substantially the same as the distance between said parts on each of the other needles a plurality of yarn carriers, said row ofv needles and said yarn carriers being mounted for relative rotative movement, means to move each one of the needles of said row from a position such that yarn will not be received from a yarn carrier by the needle to a partially advanced` position such that yarn can be received thereby from a yarn carrier but that yarn will not be knitted in loops upon the retraction thereof, a pattern wheel operative thereafter to select groups of said needles and to advance the needles in the selected groups from said partially advanced position to a fully advanced position such that the needles can knit loops upon the retraction thereof, means operative after said pattern Wheel and before the passage of one of said yarn carriers to retract alternate needles in each group not selected by said pattern wheel to a position such that said alternate needles will not receive yarn from the yarn carrier, stitch-forming means operative after the passage of said one of said yarn carriers to retract all the other advanced needles, means operative thereafter to move each of the needles of said row to said partially advanced position, a pattern wheel operative thereafter to select other groups and to advance the needles in such groups to said fully advanced position, means operative after the last-mentioned pattern wheel and before the passage of a second yarn carrier and to retract alternate needles of each group not selected by said last-mentioned pattern wheel, and stitchforming means operative after the passage of said second yarn carrier to retract all of the other advanced needles.

22. Almittino' machine, including a row of latched needles, a plurality of yarn carriers, said row of needles and said yarn carriers being mounted for relative rotative movement, certain of the needles being formed with long butt-portions and others of the needles being formed with short buttportions, the needles having long butt-portions being arranged through said row substantially in alternation with the needles having short butt-portions, means to move each one of said needles from a position such that yarn will not be received from a yarn carrier by a needle to a partially advanced position such that yarn can be received from a yarn carrier but that previously received yarn is retained on the needle latch; a pattern wheel acting thereafter to select oups of said needles and to-advance the nee es in the selected groups from said partially advanced position to a fully advanced positign such that yarn previously received by a needle is free of the needle latch, means acting after said pattern Wheel and before the passage of one of said yarn carriers and operative on the long butt-portions of the long butt needles i'n each group remaining in said partially advanced position to retract such long butt needles to a position such that the needles will not receive yarn from the yarn carrier, stitch-forming means operative after the passage of said one of said yarn carriers to retract all the other advanced needle means operative thereafter to move each o the needles of said row to a partially advanced position, a pattern wheel actin thereafter to select other groups of sai needles and to advance the needles in such groups to a fully advanced position, means acting after the last-mentioned pattern wheel and before the passage of a second yarn carrier and operative on the long butt-portions of the long butt needles of each group not selected by said last mentioned pattern wheel to retract the same, and stitch-formin means operative after the passage of sai yarn carrier to retract all of the other advanced needles. 23. A knitting machine needle, comprising a shank portion, a yarn-receiving member, a butt portion adapted to cause the rotation of a pattern wheel and presenting an edge adapted to be operated on by the pattern wheel, and a supplemental butt portion projecting'from the aforesaid butt portion at a point suiliciently removed from said edge to be out of the path of the pattern wheel and adaptedto be acted on by a selective cam.

24. A knitting machine needle, conllrisin a yarn-receivin member and a sha sai shank being widcened throughout a portion of its length to provide a butt adapted to be operated on by a pattern wheel, and being further widened at a portion thereof to provide a supplemental butt portion adapted to be operated by a selective cam, said supplemental butt portion being disposed at a suflicient distance from the actuated edge of the rst mentioned butt portion so as to avoid any danger of the same being twisted by the pattern wheel.

whereof I aix m l Intestimony si ature.

' VINCENT LO BA DI. 

